Monday, April 30, 2012

I attended Highland Elementary School in Silver Spring, MD the 1980s for six years. I know that school well and I looked into the data. It is every bit as suspicious as you suggest. I too was suspicious of this data when I saw it a few years ago. I still live in Montgomery County with three children of my own.

You should ask more questions because I am very certain that the test data of Highland Elementary School shows that something is amiss.

Here are 4 important issues that the data show which need further investigation:

(1) How can a school have 61.9% of its students be receiving special instruction for Limited English Proficiency (see link below) and in precisely the same year (2009) have 94% of its students be advanced in not any subject in particular but English reading specifically?

(2) With a student body that has a majority of immigrant students of limited English proficiency, you would expect greater success at math or science than English reading. Instead, the opposite is true:

These supposedly incredible teachers and students did very poorly in the very areas that one would have expected them to excel at.

(3) An important statistical technique is to look at cohort effects. The reading data shows a massive jump from 2007 to 2008 in the fifth grade data. Then there is a massive drop from 2010 to 2011. We can follow the *same group of students* for fourth and third grades and see what we find.

Looking at the fourth grade data we see that the very same group of students that reported 80% advanced reading in 5th grade in 2008 reported only 25% advanced reading in 2007 in 4th grade.

From 2010 to 2011, there was a huge drop from 86% advanced reading in the fifth grade level to 42% in 2011. That same group of students reporting that incredible 86% of students achieving advanced in fifth grade had only shown 30% advanced reading two years earlier in third grade.

Even more astonishing to me, that group of students reported to have an incredible 94% of their students achieving advanced reading in 5th grade in 2009, was the same group that reported a mere 12.1% advanced reading in 2007 in third grade.

This group that reported such terrific results was apparently not learning much along the way.

(4) In 2009, at the same time that the fifth grade class at Highland elementary was reporting such incredible results with 94% of all students performing at an advanced level, the third grade class under the same school leadership was performing at an abysmally low level with just 13.6% of students doing advanced reading. This is going on simultaneously!

FOXdc interviewed Superintendent Joshua Starr on the issue of the dramatic rise of Highland Elementary School test scores in 2008-2009. FOXdc did not ask Superintendent Starr why the Highland scores then fell.

"However, Mr. Judd [the AJC reporter] was told numerous times that the drop [in test scores at Highland] was related to budget reductions that resulted in the loss of staff that helped with focused reading instruction and interventions for students that were struggling."

So let's Fact Check that statement from MCPS by looking at the data on Highland Elementary for the years in question.

The peak in the Highland Elementary test scores as shown on the AJC article chart was 2009. Then the scores began to fall again.

Click on image for full screen view to show all columns.

* Spending per pupil as to School Personnel Cost. (source MCPS Schools at a Glance)

** The local school budget information in these years gave more details than after 2008. So the budget numbers for years with ** will be higher as they include all of the funding for the local school. After 2008, MCPS limited the budget data that was released for each local school.

*** This was the year that MCPS withheld local school budget information from the public so the budget for this local school for that year is not available.

MCPS received $1.3 Million as a rebate for purchasing access to the Internet for schools. The rebate money comes from the federal government and goes to the funding authority. In this case, the Montgomery County Council. The rebate has no strings attached and can be spent for ANYTHING that the Montgomery County Council desires.

MCPS has issued the following press release in response to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution article on Highland Elementary School in Silver Spring, MD. Bear in mind that when there were allegations of cheating at Potomac Elementary School MCPS was busy covering up the issue.

The AJC article and accompanying chart raised questions about how test scores could climb, and then fall. Will MCPS investigate the phenomenon or seek to ignore the issue at hand?

MCPS Superintendent of Schools Joshua P. Starr offered the following response to Sunday's article in the Atlanta-Journal Constitution:

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) has published an article that looked at the standardized test results of schools that were named National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. Highland Elementary School, in Silver Spring, was one of the schools included in the AJC’s article. The story identifies large swings in standardized test scores for the schools that won the Blue Ribbon award. The AJC’s implication is that Highland students and staff must have cheated.

Let me be clear: The turnaround that occurred at Highland Elementary School was the result of having a great school leader and a motivated staff that had the training, support and resources it needed to serve its students. There has never been an allegation of cheating at Highland Elementary School since the school’s turnaround began and the school continues to get tremendous results even as its resources have been cut significantly over the past four years.

The AJC’s story not only represents irresponsible journalism, but it fosters the very stereotypes that have dogged public education for too long. The underlying message is that schools comprised of mostly African American, Hispanic or poor students cannot achieve at a high level unless they cheat. We know that is not the case and are disturbed by the inference. There are no shortcuts to this success. It takes focus, investment and commitment, but all students can learn if they are provided the instruction, supports and interventions they need.

Highland has nothing to hide, which is why we welcomed AJC reporter Alan Judd to the school. He saw the tremendous instruction going on in each classroom, saw multiple examples of great student work and spoke at length to the teachers and principals. Little of that is represented in the story, and what is represented is in the last section of the article long after the suggestion of cheating has been made. The AJC does not offer one scintilla of evidence that cheating occurred at Highland, but rather uses inferences and selective data in an attempt to prove its point.

The article suggests that Highland’s performance on state assessments has fallen dramatically, focusing on a drop in the percentage of students that scored in the “advanced” range in 5th grade reading. However, Mr. Judd was told numerous times that the drop was related to budget reductions that resulted in the loss of staff that helped with focused reading instruction and interventions for students that were struggling. He fails to mention that the percentage of 5th grade students scoring at proficient or higher on the reading exam was above 95 percent, where it has been for three consecutive years.

The article suggests that the fact that Highland didn’t make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in 2011 is a further indication of questionable results in the past. Yet, the authors fail to mention that in 2011, Highland missed AYP by four students in just one subgroup—special education—in mathematics during a year that the Academic Measurable Objective increased. This data tells us nothing about Highland, but rather speaks to the absurdity of the AYP formula.

The AJC had its story written long before it visited Highland Elementary, which is unfortunate. But that does not diminish the accomplishments of the school’s staff and students.

I challenge anyone to walk the halls of Highland, watch the teaching and learning in the classrooms and see the quality of the student work and not come away convinced that the school’s test scores are not only valid, but are also just a small indicator of its success.

As I posted before, the Wootton-BBYO concert went on as scheduled - in somewhat rainy, somewhat cold environs.

In my next to last post on this subject (yes, there is still one more piece in the pipeline), I'd like to share some of the lessons learned.

Civic Engagement - according to Dr. Doran and Ms. Taylor, all you need is a party. Doesn't matter what you have to get to do to have the party, just party along and you will be engaged. The louder the better.

Don't worry about the rules - yes, you can have a large party in school facilities, even if you need to import or borrow attendees from outside your school to come to the party. Noise permits, police, traffic control - who needs them? Certainly not a high performing school with well connected parents who can arrange to have things your way.

Run the event after school hours, at a cost that could be prohibitive to some of your school community. After all, the student government raised the funds. School activities are much more fun if you need a ticket on a Saturday night to attend.

Don't forget to bring in a partner, even if the partner's goals aren't your own. So what if its a faith based organization, and its name is on every website. Its great publicity. And if some members of your community feel excluded? The material has no religious content! OK, we'll take off that part about synagogue affiliation from the ticket order form.

Also be sure to include fencing with barbed wire to keep out the undesirables. That way you won't spend as much money on security.

The only folks with any sense during this concert seemed to be the featured attraction. During the afternoon, the sound checks rocked the neighborhood. However, during the concert, the actual noise level did not shake the walls in the neighbors homes. Thanks to Third Eye Blind for recognizing this wasn't your usual commercial venue.

Thanks to the combination of weather and sparse ticket sales, the last lesson learned - the one about parking and traffic - didn't seem to be an issue last night. Attendance at the event was modest, so traffic was not an issue. But another lesson that Dr. Doran and Ms. Taylor need to know for the next event - be sure that you plan for adequate parking, especially if you invite teens from across the county. Maps would be helpful. Telling the Northern Virginia VIPs to park at Frost doesn't mean much.

Which brings us to the next rule. Only plan events that will excite and engage your own students. If you have to count on ticket sales to other "partners" or reach out to other schools, you have failed big time in your key objective with your own students and community.

And for those of you who can't wait for my final post on this topic, I'll give you a hint. I'm waiting for the contracts and the budget information from the various county offices involved in the event. Almost everyone has responded to my request - except for Montgomery County Public Schools. As with Wootton, the rules don't apply to MCPS, so they are holding the materials to the last possible moment at 5 pm before they release anything. ﻿

Sunday, April 29, 2012

...At dozens of schools, statistically improbable spikes in test scores peaked in the year the schools submitted successful Blue Ribbon applications, the AJC analysis found. In that year, suspicious gains occurred about three times more often in Blue Ribbon winners than at all schools nationwide. At many, scores fell after the award.
Highland Elementary of Montgomery County, Md., is one school that follows this pattern...

Saturday, April 28, 2012

...It was failing, badly, and was in danger of becoming the first school in Montgomery County, an affluent, high-achieving suburb of Washington, D.C., to be taken over by the state. The superintendent of schools [Jerry Weast] lured a highly regarded principal out of retirement to take one last shot at saving the school. The new principal focused on reading and math, the subjects tested to determine whether a school meets federal standards known as “adequate yearly progress.” Over three years, average scores jumped as much as 78 percentage points.This narrative began to fall apart in the years following Highland’s Blue Ribbon designation. Some test scores dropped almost as sharply as they had risen. Last year, for the first time since 2005, Highland failed to make AYP..

Accessible seating is available for the elderly or for those who otherwise cannot stand for several hours (probably all the dignitaries too). Oops, wonder what they are going to do with those cars!

Here is a picture of the six portapotties. Remember, don't drink water or anything else - the lines can be very long if you do.

And parents - for your own comfort level - here is a view of the fence and barbed wire that will keep your kids inside the concert venue and safe from harm.

Finally, here are some other views of the stage. As one of the concert promoters told us - the tickets are almost sold out! The sound will be awesome! and she has faith that the rain will stay away (and yes, they are aware that Joel Olsteen rescheduled his event).

You've really got to admire the folks at Wootton and BBYO for continuing with their plans to hold an outdoor concert on the Wootton property. Joel Osteen already cancelled his Night of Hope, oringinally planned for tonight at Nationals Stadium, and have rescheduled for tomorrow night. and his group.

Who has a better line to the almighty one?

As for the Wootton BBYO stuff, this is consistent. We are so right, we more than anyone else. Permits - nah, who needs them. Noise - we'll take the risk. After all this is a civic engagement activity, and what better way to learn civic engagement than by breaking all the rules..

Right now - 2 pm Rockville time, the sun is shining, and the bands are doing their sound checks. Come on over to Frost Hill, get your parking spaces now, and hear the concert for free.

For those who are venturing over to the concert tonight - here is some additional advice - you don't need to wear your mudboots, because the concert has been moved over to the Wootton Parking Lot. Remember not to drink - water or anything else - because Wootton will onl

Parents - have no fear, we're sure that the 10 rent-a cops and the 5 security staff from Wootton will be able to maintain order. And keep the traffic flowing on Wootton Parkway too!

Parents have long known that the ALT-MSA is a money and time waster for students and teachers. Here's one teacher's opinion:

""Our children are already being left behind. We teach the most severely disabled students in our county, and yet we have to teach at least 10 objectives in math and reading after we have reviewed the state standards and curriculum's. Appropriate education is not one of the objectives. Our students need to learn the most basic functional life skills, but we have to spend most of our time putting together and creating a test based on math and reading (soon to be science and social studies).
"It has broken the spirit of many of the teachers in our school and many schools in our county. We are told to start September 1.
"One teacher asked if she could transfer to another class that does not have alternative Maryland assessment (alt-msa), so she can go to graduate school (so she can be deemed to be highly qualified). She cannot do both. "We have visited the state's department of ed to share our stories, to no avail. I have presented information to our MSTA board of directors, including the state director of special education, who had been asked to attend. But we have not made any major changes.
"It is very difficult to teach math and reading skills to students who are so disabled that toileting, feeding, and language development are more important in their daily life. Our stories would make any teacher want to leave our profession. And many are."" (...)

Friday, April 27, 2012

Staff members who smoke on the loading docks in the back of the building are generating controversy among their colleagues and students. Their cigarette breaks violate MCPS policy COH-EA, which prohibits the sale or use of tobacco on school grounds during the official school day...

According to a Patch article on the Wootton - BBYO (B'nai B'rith Youth Organization) concert for Saturday evening, "four years of homecoming fundraisers" are being used to fund this concert. (We've been informed that amount would be somewhere around $30,000. But if you have the specific total, please pass it along. The total cost of this concert according to the Patch article is around $100,000.)

However, student funds held by schools are not to be stockpiled for years at a time.

That Policy guarantees that when students raise money, the money raised goes to benefit the actual students that are attending the school at the time of the fundraiser. Obviously, the students that raised some of this "homecoming money" three and four years ago are long gone from the school and receive no benefit from this event.

Superintendent Starr, it's not the State Board of Education's problem that our local Board rubber stamped some very bad decisions by the previous Superintendent. But it is your problem to now pick up the pieces. Cut back on the conferences and focus on the students. There is a lot of work to be done right here.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Formerly state-of-the-art Promethean Boards equivalent to the units that MCPS purchased a few years ago for about $5000 each are now available on Ebay for as little as 14 boards for $525.

You'll need to add a projector and some other components-- most of which are available on Ebay -- but those who are at all technologically astute can put together a complete Promethean Board system for under $400 per classroom.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Tomorrow morning the Montgomery County Planning Board will be taking up the issue of "the methodology used to administer the annual school test as required by the county's Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance." The discussion is Agenda Item #3. Coincidentally today's Gazette published an article entitled, "Montgomery school system to use more relocatable Classrooms." You can read that article here. Ever wonder why your child attending class in a portable trailer? Ever wonder why, if you live in Clarksburg, one year after the new public elementary school opened, a portable trailer was required? For those answers and more, read the Planning Board report, here, or below. Better yet, comment on the report. To comment, email the Chair, Ms. Françoise Carrier, at mcp-chairman@mncppc-mc.org.

The Gazette reported on the complaint by a teacher at Richard Montgomery High School regarding an AP class and the response of the Superintendent's administrators. Here is the full text of the actual complaint.

At Richard Montgomery High School, students in the Middle Years Programme are learning U.S. History in the same class as Advanced Placement students, and one teacher at the school thinks student learning is being sacrificed.Brian Donlan, a social studies teacher at the Rockville school, issued a formal complaint to the school administration Thursday that accuses the school of labeling the class both AP and MYP to satisfy MYP requirements and offer AP courses. The number of AP students at a school boosts its placement on the Washington Post/Newsweek Challenge Index, which ranks performance of schools nationwide...

...“I believe the actions by the Richard Montgomery leadership are misleading to colleges and universities about the rigor of courses taken by students,” Donlon wrote in the complaint...

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Here is the email sent around to members of one the the homeowners associations adjacent to Wootton HS and its TunedIn/ BBYO concert this Saturday April 28.

On Saturday, April 28th, Wootton High School will be holding a concert
titled "Tuned In: Be the Voice that Rocks the World," a concert
promoting political activism and civic engagement. This concert will
be featuring many politicians, CNN's John King, and the musical groups
Timeflies and Third Eye Blind. The Wootton High School Student Council
is sponsoring this event and has informed us that there will be a
higher than normal noise level through the evening. The event will
start at 8 p.m. and be over by 11:30 p.m. Please plan accordingly.
We will be locking the pool parking lot gate to prevent unnecessary
traffic through the community that evening.

Yes, you are reading it right. Bring earplugs, lock the gates, the kids from Wootton are coming!!

Wootton HS is such a good neighbor. Civic engagement? Political activism? Not needed, just lock the doors and look the other way.

Two questions.

1. Why isn't the community selling parking spots for this concert? I bet the communities could raise enough money from parking at $25 a car to completely fund and outfit the swim team in new gear for the season?

2. What type of notice went out to the adjacent communities that do not have a homeowners association? Individual emails or no notice? Bet those families off Scott Drive and Monterra Court will be surprised - unless they are planning on selling parking spots.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Dr. Doran and his ace guidance counselor really know how to throw a party.

And, they are so creative with the limited parking at the venue - even though kids from all over the DC metropolitan area are now coming, for an extra $10 you can get transportation and a tour of the monuments too.

The City of Calgary, in Alberta, Canada, is reporting they have named Rollin Stanley as GM of Planning, Development and Assessment. He will be starting the position in June 2012. According to the press release he will be moving to Calgary as soon as possible.

City of Calgary names General Manager of Planning, Development & Assessment April 23, 2012 08:30 AM

The City of Calgary, Canada website - "Newsroom"

(Calgary) – Rollin Stanley, a well-known and visionary municipal planner currently working as the Director of Planning for Montgomery County, Maryland, has been appointed as the General Manager for Planning, Development & Assessment at The City of Calgary. Stanley is expected to begin work in Calgary in June.

“Mr. Stanley brings a wealth of experience in strategic urban growth, department leadership and community and stakeholder partnerships,” said City Manager Owen Tobert. “I am confident that Rollin is the right person to reinvigorate the planning approval process and ignite implementation of the long-range plans that resulted from Plan It Calgary, moving us as an organization and a community in our desired direction.”

MEDIA AVAILABILITY:

Rollin Stanley and Owen Tobert will be available to meet with the media: Monday, April 23, 2012 9:45 a.m. (at the conclusion of introduction during Council’s regular meeting) CalgaryPowerReceptionHallHistoricCity Hall

Sunday, April 22, 2012

On another posting on this blog you can read about a fundraiser that, according to the comments, is attempting to raise funds for items like electric guitars. It's not clear if this fundraising is for MCPS or for an outside program, but the comments allude to a deficit in the MCPS music curriculum and a need for musical instruments.

Meanwhile, today at least twothree four Montgomery County Board of Education members and the Superintendent are in Boston, Massachusetts at a 3 day convention.

We don't know how many Board of Education members attended the conference in total. [Update: Laura Berthiaume, Shirley Brandman and Chris Barclay are at Boston Convention. That's the equivalent of buying 36 Electric Guitars for students.] [Update: Superintendent Starr is also at the Boston Convention. That's 12 more Electric Guitars!] [Update: Event the Student Member of the Board of Education is in Boston! 12 more Electric Guitars.

But for the twofour five that did attend, the cost of travel, limo to airport, hotel, food and conference fees would buy about 2550 60 electric guitars for public school students.

That includes the MCEA - the teachers' union - because they are equal partners in the preparation of the MCPS Operating Budget.

Teachers, why do you chose conferences over classrooms?

From MCPS Bulletin:"The proposed FY 2011 budget was developed in full partnership with our three employee associations—MCAAP/MCBOA, MCEA and SEIU Local 500—and with the Montgomery County Council of PTAs (MCCPTA), who all share the goal of providing a world-class education to all MCPS students." “MCEA’s involvement in the budget process is key—it allows the educators of MCPS a direct means of influencing the formulation of the budget,” says Doug Prouty, president of MCEA. “This helps to ensure that resources are directed where they will be most beneficial for students, teachers, and those who support their work.”

Maryland State Board of Education today announced that Dr. Lillian M. Lowery, Secretary of Education for the Delaware Department of Education, has been selected the State’s next State Superintendent of Schools.

Last year the Board of Education sold the "MCPS" name to Pearson Education, Inc for use in the creation of a national K-5 curriculum. The Board has "partnered" with Pearson in the writing of the curriculum that will be used in MCPS and then sold nationwide. Pearson is developing the tests that will be used in all elementary school grades.

The New York Daily News is reporting on a recent issue with a Pearson test involving a question about a...

Even though public school in Maryland is free under the Constitution, look what is being used to get people to buy tickets to a concert:

...Remember when you wanted to learn to play rock and roll, but only were offered trumpet, clarinet, or violin? Today, rock and roll classes are everywhere! But if you want to play, you have to pay.Rock-in Schools is a group of Montgomery County Public School music teachers promoting free access to a complete music education for all students...to include both traditional and contemporary genres...

Who is forcing students to "pay to play" in music classes in Montgomery County Public Schools?

Next time a MCPS administrator tells you that MCPS can't afford something for your child's education, remind them that it's a choice and that the BOE has chosen perks, award ceremonies, and dinners over classrooms and the needs of children.

Parents told Montgomery County school leaders Tuesday that it's time to "walk the walk" and effectively engage the county's growing minority populations in school activities and decisions.What that means, parents say, is a formal process for ethnic and cultural groups to regularly meet with Superintendent Joshua Starr and the county school board.Increased cultural sensitivity training for school staff was also on the agenda."In case you're wondering, I'm white," said Kristin Trible, president of the Montgomery County Council of PTAs. "But even being white, I have heard comments by teachers about students' skin colors that were disappointing."Parents also asked Montgomery County Public Schools to announce its support for Maryland's newly revised discipline policy, which recognizes the disproportionate amount of minority students who are suspended and expelled from school.

The naming committee for a new elementary school in the Downcounty Consortium will meet on Thursday, April 19. The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. in the media center of Oakland Terrace Elementary School, 2720 Plyers Mill Road, in Silver Spring......The committee had met previously three times, but two of the meetings were mistakenly not publicly posted. The process is being redone to assure full compliance with the Maryland Open Meetings Act.

Last month I was compelled to send an email to the Whitman community regarding my growing concern about the number of students with concussions we have this year, and I included in my posting some signs of concussions. In response, a Whitman community member, Dr. Michael Singer, met with me to discuss my hopes regarding this subject. I indicated that I was hoping to have an informative evening event for parents, students, and coaches. Dr. Singer volunteered to put together a panel of experts, and he has done a remarkable job. I am writing to invite the Whitman, BCC, and Walter Johnson communities to attend a panel discussion on April 19th from 7:30p.m. to 9 p.m. The experts listed below will discuss their observations and will field questions from the audience. Please join us.

Montgomery County Public Schools misled parents and the public about the system's budget needs, county lawmakers said Tuesday.

School system leaders say they had to eliminate about 1,350 positions during the recession, but they fail to mention they have also added nearly 1,200 positions, both teachers and support staff, Montgomery County Council members said. The net loss of jobs is 160 positions, a drop in work force of about 0.7 percent.

And for fiscal 2013, which begins July 1, County Executive Ike Leggett has backed the school board's request to add teacher positions, which would give the school system a net of 229.5 more full-time employees than it had in fiscal 2009.

With half of the county’s budget going to Montgomery County Public Schools each year, the Montgomery County Council restated on Tuesday its need to know when those funds are — and aren’t — being spent.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

The Tuned In Wootton HS BBYO event become more curious the closer we get to the event.

This blogger can't figure out what is happening, so I'll be sharing the information as it becomes available.

We know that the school did not apply for a waiver from the noise ordinance in the county. "Its in the works," according to one source. Really? This needs to be filed a month in advance and the community needs to have some notice.

Here is the letter from the SGE and Jennifer Taylor, the SGE sponsor, inviting one group to join in the fun.

This raises another question - is Ms. Taylor getting paid from school system funds to run this event?

Her contact information is at the bottom of the letter. The letter says to contact her for more information.

So Ms. Taylor - here is my question - shouldn't a school sponsored civic engagement event play by the rules? Or are you teaching civil disobedience, by flagrantly flouting the rules that apply outside of the Wootton HS protectorate?

Thanks to an alert reader, we have the following information to add to the information on the rock concert that will take place on April 28, 2012 on the Wootton High School (grass) football field. (Know that the next Capital Budget request from Wootton HS will be for a million dollar artificial turf because the grass field can't withstand the activity from a rock concert with 3,000 teens.)

Another tidbit from the TunedIn site: (http://www.tunedinmaryland.org/#!press|c19rs) "Monday, April 16th through Wednesday, April 18th ​Wootton High School will temporarily pause all ongoing curriculums and spend three consecutive days teaching about issues relative to the 2012 Presidential and Congressional elections.

"TUNED IN is sponsored, in part, by BBYO and is open to all Jewish teens and the entire greater Washington area's Jewish community. BBYO invites all teens, Jewish and otherwise, associated with our coalition partners to join us. Alumni, families, friends and guests are invited to attend. Tickets are $25 each (and each total order has a $1 processing fee).All attendees associated with coalition partners are also welcome to join us and purchase tickets through this site."

With all the celebrity bigwigs - hosted by John King of CNN, and appearances by Councilman Phil Andrews, MD Attorney General Doug Gansler, Sen. Barbara Mikulski's Office, Romney for America Campaign and more - who wants to be left out?

We are anxiously waiting for the Four Eye Blind concert sponsored by PFOX.

The event apparently was unique in another respect as well, according to Ian Kandel, program director of BBYO's D.C. Council. He said it was probably the first partnership in U.S. history between a faith-based organization and a public high school. For that reason, organizers strove to avoid First Amendment problems, in part, by consulting with the organization Americans United for the Separation of Church and State.

Wootton was chosen because many of its student leaders are also active BBYO participants, according to Kandel, who said the concert reflected a major change in BBYO's outreach philosophy.

The 84-year-old organization . . . is expanding its horizons in an attempt to engage greater numbers of unaffiliated and marginally affiliated Jewish students.

One way of doing that, Kandel explained, is by melding students' core interests (such as social justice-related activities) with the pop-culture scene via the presentation of "exciting social events" in secular venues, such as Wootton.

Thursday's concert culminated a weeklong campaign at the high school aimed at raising students' political awareness and encouraging them to get involved in worthwhile causes in the nonprofit sector.

So - here are my questions.

1. How are the costs and profits divided between MCPS and BBYO?
2. Who holds the liability insurance for the event and is responsible for any damage to Wootton's athletic stadium?
3. Are the permits in order?
4. What about security?
5. Did Americans United for the Separation of Church and State sign off on the 2012 concert?
and most important
6. Will our own Josh Starr be in attendance with all the political hotshots planning to attend?

Students will be arriving at Wootton by shuttle bus that day, so there should be plenty of onsite parking for tailgaters.

Watch those speed cameras on Wootton Parkway and see you on April 28 at Frost Hill.

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Principles

Formed in 2002, the Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland seeks to achieve the goals of coherent, content-rich curriculum standards; high expectations combined with timely remediation and acceleration; a wider range of educational options for parents and children; greater transparency and accountability; and meaningful community input.

E-mail: contact AT parentscoalitionmc.com

What the Gazette said about the Parents' Coalition

It has taken a watchdog outside group, the Parents’ Coalition of Montgomery County, to ferret out this waste. The coalition, driven by its sharp curiosity, frequently uses the Maryland Public Information Act to request public records and keep track of district decisions and spending.

We commend the coalition for its important work on this front. It is saving county residents money as inappropriate spending has been uncovered.

What The Washington Post said about the Parents' Coalition

The coalition might be the best-known parent advocacy group in the region. Its members represent several constituencies, including parents of special education and gifted education students and fiscal watchdogs. The group's defining victory came this school year when the school system scaled back the fees charged to families for course materials.

Coalition leaders have drawn attention to the misuse of funds collected from students for activities, the broadcast of a commercial radio service on school buses and, with their "Weast Watch" blog, the travel habits of Weast and his lieutenants.

MD Open Meetings Act Compliance Board staff says

Jerry Weast on the Parents' Coalition

"Along the way, you’ve had a challenging relationship with the Parents’ Coalition, the network of citizen activists who use the political process and other means to hold MCPS accountable.

The thing people accuse me of is listening, but not hearing. I hear, but I do not always agree. I am sorry that the world is faster than it was 10 years ago. I did not do that. [But] if we do not keep up, then our kids will be behind. We have to stop whining and get real."